Heavy rains to persist in Luzon due to monsoon enhanced by ‘Falcon,’ LPA

SCREEN SHOT FROM PAGASA DOST AS OF JULY 18, 2019 AT 6:20 AM

MANILA, Philippines — Rains will continue in most parts of Luzon on Thursday due to the monsoon being enhanced by the tropical storm and low pressure area.

Tropical Storm “Falcon” has maintained its strength as it moved northward, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. 

Moderate to at times heavy rains will be experienced over Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and northern Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands. 

Manila and the rest of Luzon will have light to moderate to at times heavy rains. 

The low pressure area spotted 265 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur might intensify into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. 

Signal No. 2 remained over Batanes while Babuyan Group of Islands remained under Signal No. 1. 

Falcon was last spotted 230 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, moving northward at 20 kilometers per hour. 

It is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday evening. 

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph. /je